Hemitrichia species exhibit either plasmodiocarp or sporangium fruiting bodies, both of which are well-known and recognizable slime molds seen on multiple continents.

[2] As in all members of the Trichiida order, the structure of the capillitium plays a major role in identifying and defining the different families and genera.

[2] Rostafinski describes the genus as having “[c]apillitium tubes fused into nets, free or with single tapered ends trapped between stalk contents”.

[3] In 1922, Thomas MacBride published his second edition of The North American Slime Moulds, the monograph in which he first describes the Trichida order.

In this book, the genus Hemitrichia is described as having the “[c]apillitium a tangled net of more or less branching and [cross-connecting] fibres” as well as detail about the capillitium threads, which are “conspicuous spirally winding bands or ridges”.

Currently, Hemitrichia remains a well-studied slime mold genus, with over 40 described species found on multiple continents.

[6] Further molecular research into slime mold taxonomy could reveal more information on the family tree and evolution of Hemitrichia.

[8] Members of the family Trichiaceae are described as having sessile or stalked fruiting bodies, and either hold spores in a plasmodiocarpic or a sporocarpic vessel[9] (see Life cycle).

[5] Members of the Hemitrichia follow the typical plasmodial slime mold life cycle, which exhibits two main stages as well as possible sexual reproduction.

The best example of this is Hemitrichia serpula, which forms distinctive gold-yellow networks of tubes that will burst to reveal spores when they are mature.

[5] An example of this is Hemitrichia clavata, which forms small sporangia held on a stalk that open to reveal brightly red to yellow coloured mature spores.

Hemitrichia serpula is probably one of the most well-known and recognizable slime molds due to its distinct golden yellow net-shaped appearance, which acts as the main morphological feature used to identify the species.

[6] The species' distinct morphology and its extremely wide spread habitat allowed Hemitrichia serpula to be used to study the process of speciation and gene flow in the Myxomycetes.